Sanuk Canadian

This is the last installment of a climb  to Mt. Tonodake,  in the Tanzawa mountains. Part 1 is HERE . Part 2 is HERE .  After reaching the summit of 新大日(shin-dai-nichi), it was time to make the final push to our goal -- 塔ノ岳山(to-no-dake-yama). Chains and wooden bridges were frequently seen as the trail became narrower. The trail: After about an hour of climbing, my friend and I reached the summit at 11.45 AM -- 4.5 hours after our departure! Hurray! I posed at the summit marker. On top of the world! The summit marker notes the elevation here is 1,491 meters above sea level, or 4,891 feet. We stayed for about 30 minutes at the summit, eating lunch and shivering in the cold with other hikers. The summit was very cold, and mist covered the mountain top, so we were unable to catch a view of Mount Fuji from this point. On a clear day, hikers can enjoy Japan's iconic mountain from the summit of 塔ノ岳(to-no-dake)....Click HERE to view. (photo courtesy of wikip...

Part 2 continues the climb from 三ノ塔(san-no-tou) to the third peak, 新大日(shin-dai-nichi) mountain.  After leaving the summit of 三ノ塔(san-no-tou), the climb coursed along the mountain ridge. In the distance, we could see hikers making their way down, then back up to the second mountain peak. Mountain hut in the distance and hikers mid-frame: As mentioned yesterday, this section of the climb became much harder, as we encountered ladders and chains along the route. cutenekko finishes climbing down a ladder: A rock wall, with climbers descending using chains: Soon after, we made it to our second peak, whose kanji I cannot read nor recall at this time. (I'll update the post tomorrow with the kanji/ English). My finger points to the location on the map. By this point, we had traveled about 4 kilometers. Our route, marked in red from 三ノ塔(san-no-tou), to our current location: A route marker, noting 2.3 kilometers to go: From this point, we climbed fu...

This past Saturday, a friend and I decided to go mountain climbing for the day. We selected a route in the Tanzawa Mountain range, in mid-Kanagawa. The route traveled 7.5 km one way, over four other mountain peaks, before reaching the summit of Mount Tonodake  (1,491 meters). Route map and facts Distance: 7.5 km (one way) Total height: 1,491 meters (4,891 feet) Time: 4 hours (one way) Cutenekko: ready for climbing! ^_^ We started from Bodai Pass at 07:15. There are two routes, but we recommend the forest route, which passes 二ノ塔(ni-no-to), as the view and path are more spectacular. Route option #1: Go through this gate, following the road for about 500 meters. On your left, you'll see a wooden route marker to 二ノ塔(ni-no-tou). This route is not recommended, as it's full of rocks and stairs, but most people hike this route: Route option #2 (recommended): On the left of the gate seen above, you can find this trail. From here, hikers climb to 三ノ塔(san-no-tou): ...

The school where I take my flute lessons each week had an advertisement for an interesting show -- belly dancing. A friend of mine is a fan of this dance, so I mentioned it to her and we went together. The show was held in Yokohama. Dancers with scarves: Strike a pose: It was interesting to see the dancers using different props -- scarves, canes and swords. Below,  a group of dancers used canes-- twirling, tapping,and even balancing them on their heads! Cane dance: Belly dancing is quite popular in Japan; it is promoted here as "body toning/ women's fitness". I really enjoy the music. As a lover of global sounds, there is something about Turkish and Arabic music that makes me want to move. Video of dancers: My friend and I both enjoyed this performance. The following week, I signed up for Belly Dancing lessons. My first lesson was yesterday and featured stretches, basic movements and a dance routine. It's a lot more difficult than it looks. Al...

A friend of mine, who is a new mother, suggested getting together sometime to enjoy lunch together. I offered to take her to the Park Hyatt Hotel's "Peak Lounge", which from 2-5pm daily, offers a great tea service. The lounge is located on the 41st floor, so you can enjoy great views while munching! The tea set: Extra service desserts: Her daughter had never been to an afternoon tea, and even though she was only 6 months, she really enjoyed the comfy chairs and view from the window. We had some visitors too.... Construction workers outside: We stayed until dusk, and I took a photo of the view. Nice no? Peak Lounge is located in the Park Hyatt Hotel (made famous by the movie "Lost in Translation"). The hotel is located in Shinjuku. You can walk underground from Shinjuku station to the hotel (about 8 minutes). Just follow the signs that say: "Tokyo Government Buildings".  The Afternoon Tea service is from 14:00 ~ 17:00. ¥3,900 p...

In early October, I was invited to spend a warm Saturday afternoon watching high school baseball. This tournament was for Kanagawa High School boys, first to second year students only. I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I love being outdoors and watching sports is a favorite of most Canadians, so I agreed to go. The tickets: The baseball ground: The park itself was located in a massive sports area in Southern Kanagawa, 10 minutes by train from Yokohama. While walking to the baseball stadium, we passed by: a running track, a soccer field, an art museum, water fountains, two swimming pools and tennis courts -- all located in this sports area. I thought Japan really invests in "quality of life" for its citizens. In an earlier post on high school baseball, I mentioned how the opposing teams bow to each other before play begins. I finally caught a photo of this unique tradition: The players line up.... ....and bow.  Unfortunately, the team I came to ch...

My friend took a day off work and drove me to Yamanashi prefecture. The final destination was a secret, but when we arrived, the smell of something sweet hung in the air. Oh! We were going to visit a Japanese sweets factory. This factory is very famous, having been featured on a Japanese television show. It's known for mochi (sweet, pounded rice cakes) with brown sugar syrup. Factory shop: Inside, we were not allowed photos, and the tour itself is quite short -- only 15 minutes! My friend and I both commented that the guide didn't allow much time to stop and look at things or to ask questions....(>_<) At the end of the tour, for ¥300, you could learn how to tie their specialty -- mini packets of mochi. During the tour, we watched lines of workers individually tying each sweet. The guide said they can tie one in 6 seconds! My friend decided to give it a try and I took photos... Step 1 : Lay the clear sheet on the table in a diamond shape. Step 2 : Place th...

My readers know I am not a drinker or a connoisseur of alcohol, so why in the heck would I visit a beer factory? Well, two reasons: factory tours are hugely popular in Japan now, and they are free . I love free things, so when a friend invited to visit one, I didn't hesitate to go. Kirin Beer is a major Japanese brewery with many factories in the country. This particular one is nicknamed "Beer Village" and is located in Yokohama area. Map of the area: The front sign of the factory: Inside, we were led on a well organized tour, which included a film,  an explanation of the beer making process, the storage containers, etc. We were only allowed photos inside the factory in one location, so unfortunately I can't show my readers too much. Beer vats: This is a celebrity who appears in the ads for Kirin beer: Near the end of the tour, everyone got excited in our group. Why? You get free beer for about 30 minutes!! ^_^ If you don't drink alco...

...shots from inside the mammoth park continue. Part one is HERE . One of the most popular rides at this park is the "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull" attraction. You should get a Fast Pass (an advance ticket) as the wait times are often 2+ hours. Before our scheduled entrance time, I took photos of the temple outside, in the area called "Lost River Delta". I'm in Mexico! (not really....)  My friend really wanted to visit "Ariel's Lagoon", based on the Little Mermaid. As the black clouds were rolling in, it was a safe haven from a possible rain shower. The Lagoon area is entirely indoors. Inside, we enjoyed some easy "kiddie rides" and the Little Mermaid show. ^_^  After the clouds parted, we wandered over the Aladdin area, where I was surprised to see two sumo wrestlers, also enjoying the park. My friend coerced me into asking them for a photo. I looked excited, but they looked tired! (laugh)  I advised m...